Abstract
Spain is the largest producer of olive oil in the world and, consequently, it has the world’s largest olive-growing area. Workers are highly exposed to musculoskeletal risks due to the manual nature of most of the tasks they perform. The objective of this study is to assess the musculoskeletal risks faced by olive workers in the province of Jaén (Spain) using the Standardized Nordic Questionnaire. This consists of 28 questions and analyzes the wrists/hands, elbows, shoulders, neck, back, hip, ankles, and knees. In total, 445 questionnaires were completed with variable additions from the workers’ environment: Sex, Age, Height, Weight, Body Mass Index, Crop Area, Irrigation System, Cultivation System, Nationality, Years of Experience, Cultivation Tasks, and Risk Prevention Service. The results indicate that 88.76% of workers presented some type of ailment and yet only knee problems prevented them from carrying out agricultural tasks in some cases. Certain recommendations are established to reduce musculoskeletal disorders in workers.
Highlights
There are many workers who suffer work-related illnesses and accidents each day
The ILO (International Labor Organization) has many occupational health and safety standards and recommendations [2] that help in the prevention and notification of risk, as well as in workplace inspection
Five of the six questions belong to the general part and refer to the neck, upper back, lower back, knees, and the part of the body that makes it impossible to perform the tasks over the last twelve months
Summary
There are many workers who suffer work-related illnesses and accidents each day. About 2.3 million people die worldwide from these causes. The main consequences are suffered by the workers themselves and their families. Companies are affected (in terms of productivity, competitiveness, and absenteeism, etc.), as are communities and countries (economically and socially). Governments, workers, and employers, among others, are becoming increasingly aware of this problem [1], especially in developing countries. The ILO (International Labor Organization) has many occupational health and safety standards and recommendations [2] that help in the prevention and notification of risk, as well as in workplace inspection
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